Latest news with #FDOT
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pride event attendees want to know why Main Street Bridge was raised during planned celebration
Participants in a June 1 Pride event in downtown Jacksonville are questioning why the Main Street Bridge was raised an hour ahead of its scheduled closure. More than a hundred members of the local LGBTQ+ community planned to use flashlights to light the bridge to mark the start of Pride month, but they say they were forced to abruptly change their plans. Matthew McAllister is one of the organizers of the Main Street Bridge lighting that was scheduled for Sunday. He said he learned days after they planned their event that the Florida Department of Transportation would close the bridge on Sunday at 9 p.m., forcing them to hold the event earlier. The organizers showed Action News Jax messages from Jacksonville City Councilman Jimmy Peluso, showing that they were all clear to move forward as long as they were out of the way and off the span by 9 p.m. The group said they attempted to follow through with their event – until the Main Street Bridge was raised. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'Maybe about halfway up the pedestrian walkway, we noticed the arms coming down, and then the bridge span here begins to lift,' McAllister said. 'There was no boat that was passing underneath, so this wasn't for that,' he said. McAllister said from there the group detoured, turned around, and finished their event on the Acosta Bridge instead. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Local Pride members taking part still want to know why access to the bridge was blocked at the same time they'd planned their demonstration. Action News Jax reached out to FDOT, which controls the raising and lowering of the center span, to ask why the bridge was closed when people planned to gather on it. We reached out to FDOT on Monday, and on Tuesday, and FDOT spokesperson responded to our questions, saying they had received our request and would get back to us. We are still waiting to hear back. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather to light Acosta Bridge rainbow for Pride Month in protest of the new FDOT rule
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ activists came together for two Pride events to kick off Pride month. People brought their children, dogs, and their loved ones to light the night rainbow in Jacksonville. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'The most important thing to us is simply to be treated equal to others,' said Don Tanner, who attended the events. The first event is the annual Acosta Bridge Pride March. The march started in 2021 after the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) threatened to turn off the pride lights on the Acosta bridge for Pride Month. The pride lights were kept on that year, and organizers for the event decided to keep it a tradition. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Amy Glassman is the organizer for the Acosta Bridge Pride March. She said she plans on putting on this event next year. 'Lights or no lights there will always be rainbows on the Acosta bridge in June at this event,' said Glassman. The second event is the Pride in our Freedoms Community Bridge lighting. The event first started in 2024, after FDOT launched its 'Freedom Summer Initiative,' which required all state-owned bridges to be lit in red, white, and blue from Memorial Day through Labor Day. In addition, the FDOT announced a few weeks ago that state-owned bridges will light red, white, and blue only on federal holidays through 2026. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] This was the first time that both of these events were held on the same day. As a result, hundreds of people came together from both events to light up the Acosta Bridge in rainbow colors on top of the red, white, and blue. Matthew McAllister is the organizer for Pride in Our Freedoms. He said the lights shining together are symbolic. 'Without freedom there can be no diversity. And with no diversity, there's really no point in having freedom.' said McAllister. 'You cannot separate one for the other. ' Action News Jax reached out to FDOT, asking if they will allow state-owned bridges to light up in Pride Month colors after 2026. So far, there has been no response. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
U.S. 98 Resurfacing Project Concludes in Pensacola
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — A resurfacing project on U.S. 98 in Pensacola had been completed. Spring brings dolphins, sharks and spotted rays to Orange Beach waters According to a Florida Department of Transportation news release, the $2,8 million project ran from North Palafox Street to east of 14th Avenue in Escambia County, Fla. According to the release, in addition to the resurfacing, the project also included: Lighting improvements from west of Tarragona Street to 14th Avenue Signalization upgrades Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades Storm-water management improvements 'This project is part of FDOT's continued effort to improve traffic flow and increase safety on state roadways,' the release said. Truck and dump truck crash head-on in Mobile; man critically injured For more information on U.S. 98 construction projects in northwest Florida, follow them on Facebook or Instagram. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
FDOT reminding teens to drive safely as '100 Deadly Days of Summer' begins
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is reminding families of the '100 Deadly Days of Summer' as Memorial Day approaches. The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are known as the '100 Deadly Days of Summer' because of the high risk for fatal crashes involving teen drivers, with those days as the most dangerous time, FDOT said. According to the Florida Safe Teen Driving Coalition, fatal crashes with teenage drivers behind the wheel greatly increase in the summer. To combat this, FDOT is utilizing family members of FDOT employees to gain the attention of teenagers in this video. Click here to watch. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'FDOT is hopeful teenagers will be more likely to listen to their peers about this very important safety message. Speeding, distracted driving, and not wearing a seatbelt increase the chances of injury or death if you are involved in a traffic crash. The goal of this video is to save lives,' Greg Evans, FDOT District Two Secretary, said in a news release. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Red, white and blue only: FDOT affirms bridge lighting policy excluding Pride displays
Video above: DeSantis signs law to protect Florida's state parks TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Department of Transportation affirmed its policy forbidding the display of lights outside of a red, white and blue color scheme. Earlier this year, the department extended the policy put in place by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, when he declared it 'freedom summer.' The policy states that any additional lighting combinations 'will be limited to the recognition, commemoration and/or promotion of government holidays' and must be approved by FDOT. This follows controversy sparked over the department's decision to exclude LGBTQ Pride displays, which used to light up bridges in a rainbow pattern across the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
